Charles t



C. T. HAM. LANTERN.

(N0'Model.)

No. 499,107. Patented June 6,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. HAM, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE C. T. HAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LANTERN.

SPECIFICAIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,107, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed August 24, 1891. Serial No. 403,613. (No model.)

T all whom it may c0nccnn:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. HAM, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lanterns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My present invention has for its objects, to provide certain improvements in lanterns, particularly that class in which the globe is capable of being tipped or tilted from over the burner, to permit access thereto, for the purpose of lighting or trimming, and in which the globe may be removed when desired, though some of the features are equally adapted to other styles of lanterns, and to these ends the invention consists in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter described, and the novel features pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a front elevation of a lantern provided with my improve-- ments; Fig. 2, a side view of the same; Fig. 3, a section in the line 0c, x, of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a bottom plan view of the globe supporting plate; Fig. 5, a sectional view in the line y y, 0 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a view of the globe holding support and catch; Fig. 7, a view of a modification.

Similar reference numerals denote similar parts. 5 1, indicatcs the base or oil pot of the lantern; 2, 2, the side tubes; 3, the upper horizontal tube connecting them; 4, the central depending tube, having at its lower end, the bell or canopy 5, these parts being of the usual or any preferred construction, and constituting what may be termed the lantern frame.

6, indicates the globe supporting plate, perforated as usual, fitting over the burner cone 7, and hinged to the top of the oil pot or base, 5 by a wire loop 8 passing through a metal loop on the lower side of said plate, or by other means. Arranged upon the top of this plate, is a guard preferably formed of two semi-annular parts 9, 9, having their vertical mem bers arranged close together, and theirlower ends extended around the edge of plate 6, and secured thereto, by soldering or as shown, by turning the edge of said plate overthem.

The globe 10, is secured to the plate 6, by means of catches, arranged on the latter adapted to be projected over and engage the inner edges of the globe where it bulges out, said catches in the present construction, being m ade of metal plates ll,secured to pieces of wire 12, passing through plate 6, on opposite 6c sides of the burner, said wires being bent inward, and then outward,below, to form thu mb pieces, by which they may be turned to the position shown in full lines Fig. 3, to engage and hold the globe, and to the position in dotted lines to disengage it, suitable stops 13, being provided on the plate 6, to prevent too great movement.

The preferred manner of cnnecting the wires 12, with the plates 11, is to extend the latter up through them, then bend down the inner end, passing it between lugs 14, formed thereon, by cutting a slot in the end of the plate, and bending it up. This form of connection it will be noted, does not require soldering, and leaves the Outer end of the plates free to hold the globe firmly by a somewhat elastic fastening. This construction enables the globe and its supporting plate to be swung from over the bu rner, to permit access for lighting or trimming, and also permits the globe to be removed from the supporting plate when desired. It is obvious that if desired, one of the catches holding the globe, could be made stationary, and the other one movable, and serving to disengage the globe and plate when desired, and also that instead of making them as shown, they could be formed entirely of wire, which would be cheaper, though more difficult to apply. 0

For the purpose of steadying the globe and its plate over the burner, and also of securing it in this position, I secure to the bell or canopy 5, a combined globe rest and retaining catch 15, consisting preferablyof a single 5 piece of wire, constructed as in Fig. 6, with the upper horizontal end portions, beaded in the edge of the bell, the vertical portions at the sides, the horizontal semicircular part, adapted to come below the head or shoulder :co

of the globe, when in position, and at the center the wires come together, and are extended vertically then, over, to form a shoulder 16, to engage the top of the globe, with a slight inclino in front of it, then upward through the bell, where the end is bent over to form a thumb piece, 17. When the globo is to be tilted out of the frame and from over the burner, it is only necessary to lift on the thumb piece 17, of the catch, releasing the shoulder 16, from its upper edge, when it can be accomplished, and it may be returned by simply pushing it back, the inclino engaging the edge of the globe, raising the catch or if desired the catch may be raised by the thu mb piece.

While I have shown the semi-circular part of the catch in close contact with the globe, and operating as a rest therefor, and prefer this construction, as it prevents lateral movement, I do not regard this as essential to its functions as a catch, as the notch in the rear of shoulder 16, and said shoulder may serve to prevent either forward or backward movement. The bail or handle 20, of the lantern, I form of wire, but the upper gripping part, instead of being smooth as usual, I corrugate as shown, thereby permitting the user to obtain a firmer grp, and preventing the lantern slipping in his hand, when swinging it. Also for the purpose of maintaining the bail in an upright position, when the lantern is deposited by the user on the ground, obviating the necessity of his stooping to lift it,or of the bail coming in contact with the hot globo, when lighted, I make the depend ing portions of the bail springy, and provide on the lantern frame, suitable recesses into which said portions can spring, preferably inclining the sides of the recesses, so that when the bail is near the correct position, it will be forced by the spring to it. In Figs. 1 to 4:, I have shown a form of this device, adapted to a tubular lantern, in which I form two projections 21 21, inclined on their proximate sides, on the upper ends of the side tubes 2, 2, just above the aperture into which the bail end projects, leaving a recess With inclined sides between them, into which the elastic legs of the bail force themselves, keeping said bail upright. The bail can of course be turned down as usual, but when the lantern is deposited on the ground, with the bail in approximately vertical position, it will be held there, ready to be grasped. This construction also facilitates packing the lantern for transportation, as the bails can be kept away from the glohes, preventing the latter from being accidentally broken.

Instead of employing two projections for each leg of the bail, it is obvious that one on each side of the frame could be used with good effect, as in Fig. 7; 26, indicating the lugs, disposed on opposite sides of the bail, when in vertical position, or instead of this, the centering projections could be employed only on one of the tubes.

Numerous other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not desire to be confined precisely to the construction herein shown, as for instance, the two projections with which the bail co-operates to center itself, could be made elastic, instead of the bail.

I claim as my invention l. The combination of the globe supporting plate, the globe and the globo retainers consisting of the plates, the wires to which they are secured eccentrically, extending through the globesupporting plate provided with the shoulder on the under side preventing upward movement and arranged to be 0perated from below, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the lantern frame, having a bell, globe, and a globo support, of the catch mounted on the bell, formed with the semi annular how, and the central extension provided With the shoulder, engaging the top of the globe: substantially as described.

3. The combination with the lantern frame, having the depending bell, a globe and a globe support, of the catch mounted on the bell formed With the semi annular how, and the central extension, having the shoulder, in

cline and the portion extending through the bell, substantially as described.

CHARLES T. HAM. Witnesses:

JOHN W. ORPHY,

ARTHUR T. LUDLAM. 

